The Underground Railroad eBook

About the 4th of July, 1856, a message reached the
Secretary that a schooner containing fifteen Underground
Rail Road passengers, from Norfolk, Virginia, would
be landed near League Island, directly at the foot
of Broad street, that evening at a late hour, and a
request accompanied the message, to the effect that
the Committee would be on hand to receive them.
Accordingly the Secretary procured three carriages,
with trustworthy drivers, and between ten and eleven
o’clock at night arrived on the banks of the
Schuylkill, where all was quiet as a “country
grave-yard.” The moon was shining and soon
the mast of a schooner was discovered. No sign
of any other vessel was then in sight. On approaching
the bank, in the direction of the discovered mast,
the schooner was also discovered. The hearts
of those on board were swelling with unutterable joy;
yet even at that dead hour of night, far away from
all appearance of foes, no one felt at liberty to give
vent to his feelings other than in a whisper.
The name of the captain and schooner being at once
recognized, the first impulse was to jump down on the
deck. Upon second view it was seen that the descent
was too great to admit of such a feat. In a moment
we concluded that we could pull them up the embankment
from the deck by taking hold of their hands as they
stood on tip toe.

One after another was pulled up, and warmly greeted,
until it came the turn of a large object, weighing
about two hundred and sixty pounds, full large enough
to make two ordinary women. The captain, who had
experienced much inconvenience with her on the voyage,
owing to the space she required chuckled over the
fact that the Committee would have their hands full
for once. Poor Mrs. Walker, however, stretched
out her large arms, we seized her hands vigorously;
the captain laughing heartily as did the other passengers
at the tug now being made. We pulled with a will,
but Mrs. Walker remained on the deck. A one horse
power was needed. The pullers took breath, and
again took hold, this time calling upon the captain
to lay-to a helping hand; the captain prepared to
do so, and as she was being raised, he having a good
foot-hold, placed himself in a position for pushing
to the full extent of his powers, and thus she was
safely landed. All being placed in the carriages,
they were driven to the station and comfortably provided
for.

On the voyage they had encountered more than the usual
dangers. Indeed troubles began with them before
they had set sail from Norfolk. The first indication
of danger manifested itself as they stood on the bank
of the river awaiting the arrival of a small boat which
had been engaged to row them to the schooner.
Although they had sought as they supposed a safe place,
sufficiently far from the bounds usually traversed
by the police; still, in the darkness, they imagined
they heard watchmen coming. Just on the edge
of the river, opposite where they were waiting, a
boat under repairs was in the stocks. In order